Modifying Top Hats

The Barndoor top hat floor supports are ever so slightly different than the standard later ones. Yes, the later ones would fit ok and do the job, but that is not what this restoration is about. Its about 100% accuracy.

So, Carl set to with some standard split screen top-hat floor supports and altered them to match Barndoor ones. Basically the centre hole for the shift rod requires a spacer tube and support bracket on the inside. This has all be fabricated and the spacer tube peened over to look completely like a factory fitted floor support.

The next two photos show the 'before' stage:

The next two photos show the new centre tube and the inner support bracket.

You can see above the extra 'U' piece support piece and the centre tube.